MEDIA RELEASE UPDATE

Police have identified four persons who were killed Wednesday (March 24, 2004) in a traffic collision near the 20-mile marker on Volcano Road (Route 11) near Glenwood, Puna.

The victims were identified as Sheena Beach, 21, of Holualoa, Arthur Kahele, 29, of Kailua-Kona, Adeline Kuahuia, 42, of Kealakehe, and Siafa Taetuna, 39, of Honaunau.

Responding to an 11:41 a.m. call, police determined that Kahele was driving a Toyota Matrix north toward Hilo when he lost control and the vehicle crossed the centerline and collided with an oncoming tour min-bus traveling south. All of the victims were taken to the Hilo Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead about 2:30 p.m.

Passengers in the mini-bus, all tourists from California and Taiwan, were taken to the Hilo Medical Center, where they were treated for minor injuries and released.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers are continuing an investigation into the collision and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death for each victim.

Officers are also asking for the public’s assistance in the investigation. Anyone with information to help the investigation or who witnessed the crash is asked to call Sergeant Robert Hatton of the TEU at 961-2332.